Sociologist · Researcher · Educator
RebeccaBlackwellPhD
Health Disparities and Immigration Scholar
University of South Florida · Sociology
A scholar of well-being
“The sense of well-being of minority groups has always been at the center of my scholarly pursuit.”
I am a qualitative researcher and consultant focused on cancer research, quality of life, disability, end-of-life care, and im/migrant well-being. I use narrative analysis to explore social framings and cultural understandings of health, belonging, and race. Through my studies in art, linguistics, restorative justice, governance, social movements, social psychology, transcultural communication, and symbolic interaction, the sense of well-being of minority groups has always been at the center of my scholarly pursuit.
Current engagements
Academic formation
PhD, Department of Sociology
University of South Florida
Dissertation: “The Debate on Physician-Assisted Death in the United States: A Narrative Analysis of Formula Stories”
MA, Institute for the Study of Latin America and the Caribbean
University of South Florida
BA, Modern Languages School
Central University of Venezuela
Courses taught
Medical Sociology
Department of Sociology, University of South Florida and University of Tampa
Introduction to Sociology
Department of Sociology, University of South Florida and University of Tampa
Emotions in Society
Department of Sociology, University of South Florida
Contemporary Social Problems
Department of Sociology, University of South Florida
Latin American Civilization
Adjunct Professor, History Department, University of South Florida
Sociology of Family
Department of Sociology, University of South Florida (Graduate Teaching Assistant)
Social Psychology
Department of Sociology, University of South Florida (Graduate Teaching Assistant)
Human Rights in Latin America
ISLAC, University of South Florida (Graduate Teaching Assistant)
Democracy and Exclusion in Brazil
ISLAC, University of South Florida (Graduate Teaching Assistant)
English Culture III
Central University of Venezuela, School of Modern Languages
English I and II
Central University of Venezuela, School of Modern Languages
Invited to the podium
Society for the Study of Social Problems
2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022Education for Justice: The 2nd Annual Anchin Center Conference
2021American Sociological Association
2020, 2021Museum of Motherhood Conference
2017, 2018Latin American Studies Association
2015, 2016Latin American Council of Social Sciences
2015, 2016Women Studies and History Department, University of British Columbia
2012Week of the Translator, School of Modern Languages (UCV, Caracas)
2006–2007Selected publications
Aranda, Elizabeth, Rebecca Blackwell, Melanie Escue, and Alessandra Rosa. “Cascading Disasters: The Impact of Hurricane Maria and Covid-19 on Post-Disaster Puerto Rican Migrants in Florida.” Latino Studies. Accepted with minor revision.
Blackwell, Rebecca and William Force. 2020. “Donileen Loseke.” In SAGE Research Methods Foundations, edited by P. Atkinson, S. Delamont, A. Cernat, J.W. Sakashaug, and R.A. Williams.
Aranda, Elizabeth, Rebecca Blackwell, and Alessandra Rosa. 2021. “‘Even if They Promise, You Know It Won’t Happen’: Ontological Insecurity from Overlapping Collective and Cultural Trauma.” Centro Journal 33(1):89-111.
Blackwell, Rebecca, Alessandra Rosa, and Elizabeth Aranda. “¿Nuestro Nuevo Hogar?: Examining Puerto Rican Migration and Their Conceptions of Home, Place-making, and Belonging.” Women, Gender, and Families of Color. Forthcoming.
Under Review
Aranda, Elizabeth, Girsea Martínez, and Rebecca Blackwell. “Toward the Use of Emotions as Methodological Technique for the Empirical Analysis of Migration.” Research Handbook on the Sociology of Migration. Accepted with minor revision.
07 · Awards
USF Hispanic Heritage Status of Latinos Award
University of South Florida · 2016
Beyond the journal
Translation
Kimmerle, Erin H. and José Pablo Baraybar. 2011. Traumatismos óseos identificación de las lesiones resultantes de las violaciones de los derechos humanos y conflictos armados. Spanish translation by Rebecca Blackwell and Norma Cuadra Morales. Lima: Equipo Peruano de Antropología Forense.
Giribaldi, Domingo and José Pablo Barayabar. 2018. Si no vuelvo, búsquenme en Putis / If I don’t come back, look for me in Putis.
Esté, Aquiles. 2004. Einstein, King of Daydreamers. English translation by Rebecca Blackwell. Caracas: Venezuela Cyls Editores.
Nonacademic Pursuits
“The incidental synthesis of social analysis”
09 · Contact
Let’s start a conversation.
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